Do you feel called to create meaningful change? If so, UCF’s master’s in counseling program provides the knowledge and know-how to guide others through life’s challenges, support emotional well-being and foster resilience in individuals and communities. Choose from two distinct specializations — Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling — where you’ll graduate prepared to turn purpose into practice as either a licensed professional counselor or certified school counselor.
Here, your lived experience matters more than test scores. Our holistic admission process reflects our belief that great counselors come from all backgrounds and are driven by a shared calling to service. The program blends rigorous academic preparation with real-world application, empowering you to develop the competence and confidence needed to thrive as a future counselor.
At UCF, you’ll learn from expert faculty with deep experience addressing trauma, addiction, chronic illness, child and adolescent therapy, and more — offering you broad exposure and the opportunity to find your own professional path. They’ll become your mentors and biggest cheerleaders, coaching, supporting and challenging you to grow into ethical, effective, self-reflective practitioners.
Throughout the program, you’ll build skills in active listening, clinical assessment, ethical decision-making and interpersonal communication — while deepening your self-awareness, emotional intelligence and cultural competence. You’ll also be introduced to both time-tested and innovative approaches to counseling, from evidence-based practices to integrated health approaches.
Through clinical experience — in clinics, hospitals, schools and community organizations — you’ll graduate with the real-world experience and requirements to earn your credentials. Most students train on-campus through our Community Counseling and Research Center and go on to train off-campus directly through one of our many community partners, including Aspire Health Partners, Grace Medical Home, Orange and Seminole County Public Schools and Orlando Health.
But learning doesn’t begin or end with program requirements. That’s why you’ll also benefit from a tight-knit, supportive learning community that values collaboration, personal growth and ongoing professional development.
So whether your goal is to support children in schools, provide counseling in community or healthcare settings or advocate for mental health access at a systemic level, UCF’s Master of Arts in Counselor Education will prepare you to lead with integrity, competence and evidence-based care — while connecting you with a like-minded community called to make the world a better place.
Possible Careers
- Academic Counselor
- Career Counselor
- Behavior Disorder Counselor
- Clinical Therapist
- Community Health Worker
- Crisis Counselor
- Mental Health Counselor
- School Counselor
- Substance Abuse Counselor

Counselor education graduate program in the nation
(U.S. News & World Report, 2025)
First-attempt FTCE School Counseling Exam Passing Rate in 2023-24
(Download Assessment Data)
No GRE Required
Info Sessions
Tracks
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling track in the MA in Counselor Education program educates and prepares students to practice mental health counseling in community settings, private practices, hospitals and schools.
At a Glance
- In Person
- Full-time
- 3 Max Transfer Courses
- 2 Core Courses
- 13 Specialization Courses
- 1 Thesis OR 2 Approved Electives
- 2 Practicum Experiences
- 2 Internship Experiences
- 1 Professional Portfolio
- 1 Comprehensive Exam
Licensure
The program meets all requirements as outlined by the Florida Department of Medical Quality Assurance for licensure as a mental health counselor.
Designed for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than education, the School Counseling track in the MA in Counselor Education is for individuals interested in pursuing certification as a professional school counselor in pre-K through postsecondary school settings.
At a Glance
- In Person
- Full Time
- 3 Max Transfer Courses
- 2 Core Courses
- 11 Specialization Courses
- 1 Approved Elective Course
- 3 DoE-Required Courses
- 1 Practicum Experience
- 2 Internship Experiences
- 1 Professional Portfolio
- 1 Comprehensive Exam
Licensure
This program meets all educational requirements outlined for certification in Guidance and Counseling (PK-12) in the state of Florida. Graduates of this Florida Department of Education-approved teacher preparation program, who have passed all applicable portions of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE), will qualify for a Professional Florida Educator's Certificate.
MA, MEd, and EdS in School Counseling — What’s the Difference?
Want to become a school counselor but not sure which degree to pursue?
Here’s a quick and easy way to help you decide:
Have a bachelor’s degree in something other than education?
Try the MA.
Have a bachelor’s degree in education and/or are a certified education?
Pursue the MEd.
Already have a master’s degree in education?
The EdS is the way to go.
Accreditation
UCF’s top-ranked graduate programs in clinical mental health counseling and school counseling are nationally accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP).
A nationally recognized accrediting body, CACREP monitors, evaluates and accredits graduate-level counseling programs to assure a quality education for students that upholds standards approved by professional counselors. It serves as a benchmark for federal agencies, state licensing boards, national certification agencies, students, and employers, and is required in the state of Florida.
